UNICEF Report: 242 Million Children Affected by Climate-Related School Closures

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A recent report by UNICEF reveals that at least 242 million children across 85 countries faced educational disruptions due to extreme weather events in 2021. The report highlights that one in seven school-going children globally missed school because of climate hazards, with low-income countries being the hardest hit.

According to the findings, around 74% of the affected children lived in middle- and low-income nations. Climatic events like heatwaves, cyclones, and floods played significant roles in these disruptions, exacerbating educational challenges, especially in regions such as Asia and sub-Saharan Africa.

In Italy and Spain, torrential rain and flooding caused thousands of children to miss classes. Meanwhile, a harsh heatwave in April affected over 118 million children across the Middle East and Asia, where temperatures exceeded 40 degrees Celsius. UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell emphasized the heightened vulnerability of children in climate-related crises, noting their physical sensitivity to heat and environmental disruptions.

The report further states that additional crises, such as droughts in southern Africa and the destruction of schools by cyclones in Mozambique, highlight the urgent need for education systems to adapt to the ramifications of climate change.

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